It would be a good night for the Knicks if guard Stephen Curry fell to No. 8.

It would be a great night for the Knicks if Arizona power forward Jordan Hill fell, too.

The Post has learned Knicks president Donnie Walsh has secretly coveted Hill, the 6-foot-10 big man whom they would take in a heartbeat over Curry. Walsh told confidants that after the draft order was established he thought a better chance existed of Hill slipping to them. That's because some teams picking before the Knicks weren't in the market for bigs.

There have been recent reports Hill was slipping, but chances still are Hill will be gone by No. 8. Walsh has eyed trading up and still has hope. Walsh will watch Hill today during a solo workout at their Westchester compound. It is Hill's second workout for an NBA team.

It has been stated the Knicks' priority has been a point guard, but Walsh says that perception is there only because a slew of point guards are considered viable in that range.

Sources indicated Walsh flew across the country for the Pac-10 Tournament to view Hill at Staples Center. Hill didn't disappoint, scoring 20 points with 13 rebounds in Arizona's loss to Arizona State.

"If draft day comes and goes and he's on their roster, it's a very good day for the Knicks," said one NBA GM who has spoken recently to Walsh. "He rebounds, defends, scores, and the key is he can run. Bigs that can run is a requisite in Mike's [D'Antoni's] way of playing."

The Knicks are stacked at power forward, but not with sturdy interior defenders. A Hill acquisition would allow them to let free agent David Lee exit and open up more cap space. Hill, who measured 6-10 without sneakers at the Chicago combine, averaged 18.3 points, 11 rebounds and 1.7 blocked shots.

"Forget all the commotion this time of year, it's not a good draft," the GM added. "And Hill's a good player. He will be a guy who can sign a large second contract in this league. I just don't see him not being a top-five guy, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

Perhaps Hill's reported slip hastened his decision to work out.

Jun 16, 2009, 06:41

metrocard

I rather just sign Anderson Varejao or Marcin Gortat to the MLE.

Jun 16, 2009, 06:45

Scribbles

I am not interested in Jordan Hill neither.

Jun 16, 2009, 07:35

Toons

Quote:

Originally Posted by metrocard

I rather just sign Anderson Varejao or Marcin Gortat to the MLE.

Agreed, sign gortat...love his work ethic

Jun 16, 2009, 08:48

dave2138

Gortat at 6 mil/yr with no history of being healthy/consistent enough given starter minutes...not worth the risk.

I think it comes down to what Golden State does. Curry and Hill probably be the best available at #7 and the Knicks will take which ever one they don't take. Hill does not make sense to any of the teams in the top 6, but is a good fit for GS or NY.

In my opinion if the knicks got Hill and somehow were able to trade David Lee for a young PG like Mike Conley jr. or the draft rights to a #15-20 PG like Eric Maynor or Ty Lawson and an expiring contract, that would really put this team in the right direction in getting more athletic, younger talent.

Jun 16, 2009, 10:37

richtree

You gotta love this....

Curry is a waste of time....

Jun 16, 2009, 12:25

JayJ44

So, it looks like we're most likely gonna end up with either Jordan Hill or Stephen Curry. This is shaping up to be a lame draft for us. Jordan Hill is just an athletic rebounder. He has poor offensive skills, poor man to man defense, low b-ball IQ, bad passer. Dude's obviously a bust.

Curry's better, but I would still be pissed if we draft him. Best case scenario, he's Mo Williams. We could do a lot better.

Jun 16, 2009, 14:52

brooklyn_baller318

people were just reporting a few days ago that hill will be a solid player and most likely a starter but not a star player..... his ceiling is not much higher than what he is now....
id rather go for a guy like curry flynn or rubio who love the game and put everything they have into it... not only to they fill a position of dire need but they also have the skill to succeed now and the desire and will to get better every day because they have what you cannot teach ... love for the game and a work ethic
forget hill who wont be a star.... id rather try to hit a homerun with one of the guards

Jun 17, 2009, 14:59

dpryde

jordan hill?? oo god shoot me

Jun 17, 2009, 16:43

DANUTZ39

Quote:

Originally Posted by richtree

You gotta love this....

Curry is a waste of time....

You mean Edy Curry...........right?

Jun 17, 2009, 17:12

DANUTZ39

Quote:

Originally Posted by dpryde

jordan hill?? oo god shoot me

If J Hill falls to # 8 I think will be good.

Memphis picks Rubio at #2 and Knicks pick Hill at #8. Then we trade Hill and Mobley for Rubio and Darko.

Memphis save money and get a PF that make sense for them and the Knicks get Rubio (who won't play for them).

Jun 17, 2009, 19:12

brooklyn_baller318

Quote:

Originally Posted by DANUTZ39

If J Hill falls to # 8 I think will be good.

Memphis picks Rubio at #2 and Knicks pick Hill at #8. Then we trade Hill and Mobley for Rubio and Darko.

Memphis save money and get a PF that make sense for them and the Knicks get Rubio (who won't play for them).

memphis doesnt really need to save money and mobley's contract is way too valuable for a bust in darko and an unproven euro pg in rubio
rubio will most likely be good but why use mobley's contract to get him when you could use mobleys contract to dump our big contracts or to land abig name player.....
utilize mobley better than that...
use it to dump curry or jj
or use it to get a josh smith or amare type player (an athletic two way big)

Jun 17, 2009, 19:53

TunerAddict

Mavs want Jordan Hill. We could always draft him then package him with say eddy curry or j jeffries for Josh Howard or someone.

Jun 17, 2009, 20:24

ANU

jordan hill has pretty good upside as a two way player.he'd be a c in this system.with the exceptions of michael jordan's bulls, and the pistons (even though their frontline d was ill) most nba championship winning teams had a great frontcourt player(garnet,duncan,shaq, olayuwon, gasol was great these playoffs).i wish donnie would try to get griffin(cause lets face it, he'd be straight up electric at the garden) for those particular reasons.but if hill is there at 8, you take him and gun it.

Jun 17, 2009, 20:40

KING~POETIQ

forget about hill.

Knicks should take a PG this year, and then take a BIG (PF/C) next year.